Chapter 310 - 308: A Frustrated Ping’an

Chapter 310: Chapter 308: A Frustrated Ping’an

"Shengnan, I know what’s going on. Don’t you worry about it. Just leave it to me, and focus on taking care of yourself!" Suppressing his anger and frustration, Ping’an spoke gently to Liu Shengnan. ’My wife is pregnant, after all!’

"Ping’an, are you sure it’s okay? I just feel so anxious all the time. Is Sister really all right? I can’t shake the feeling that she got sick because she was furious with your older brother and his wife!" Liu Shengnan asked apprehensively.

’Of course it was because of them.’ But Zhou Lian wasn’t just angry; she was probably disillusioned. ’And with me, Ping’an, as well.’ He sighed inwardly before gently reassuring Liu Shengnan, "It’s fine. This has little to do with you, so just carry on as usual. It’s not a big problem. Sister just misunderstood something. Once I explain it to her, everything will be fine. Don’t worry!"

"Oh, that’s good. I kept feeling like something was wrong, so I’m glad you’re on top of it. Your older brother and his wife don’t know that Sister’s fever was brought on by a fit of rage. I found out from Sister Fang. It’s not that I’m deliberately hiding it from them, I just have a feeling it’s better if they don’t know. Sister Fang wouldn’t say a word at first. I only got her to talk because I sensed something was off and had to fake-cry to coax it out of her!" Liu Shengnan said with a hint of resignation.

THUMP. Ping’an felt like his heart was about to give out from one drama after another. Sister Fang might technically be a nanny, but she practically ran half the Li family household. A fever was impossible to hide, but why hide the fact that it was caused by a fit of rage? ’The only reason to hide that is to cover up the fact that this incident is what made Sister sick in the first place!’

"Okay, I understand. Shengnan, you don’t need to do a thing. Just act as if you know nothing. If you can get her alone... actually, never mind. Just pretend you don’t know anything. Leave this to me. By the way, how are you feeling? Are you eating well? Any more morning sickness?" Ping’an continued to soothe Liu Shengnan gently over the phone.

’I can’t let my wife know the details. She idolizes Sister. If she knew what really happened, she’d be absolutely livid, and she’s pregnant!’

After a moment of thought, Liu Shengnan didn’t press Ping’an for details. She understood what he meant. ’I’m pregnant, after all.’ Then there was Sister Fang. She knew Sister Fang had been very reluctant to tell her the truth about Sister’s illness that day. But precisely because she was pregnant, everyone was treating her with kid gloves, terrified that any upset might harm her.

"Okay, I’ll do as you say. Everything you say, Ping’an. Don’t worry, I understand your and Sister’s intentions. I won’t get involved. I’ll just focus on taking care of myself," Liu Shengnan said, smiling sweetly.

The two chatted a little more about the baby before hanging up. Her worries assuaged, Liu Shengnan yawned, patted her belly, and went to her room to lie down. Pregnant women are always tired.

Meanwhile, Ping’an hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh and a bitter laugh. ’My own brother was once the talk of the Capital City—a dazzlingly brilliant scion of a great family. And my sister-in-law? Who didn’t praise her for being exceptionally clever, for having a Seven-orifice Exquisite Heart? How could they have made such a stupid decision?’ ℯℯ𝑙.

’This whole affair is just disgusting. Li Jincheng, on his own, would be easy enough to handle. I could just explain everything, and we’d be fine. But now Sister is sick from a fit of rage over this. I’m afraid that ridiculously doting husband of hers won’t be so reasonable. As for Sister herself... this has probably crossed a line for her. I suspect this won’t be easy to solve at all.’

’I have to go back to the Capital City. If I don’t clear this up, my relationship with Sister and Li Jincheng will be ruined. It’s not that I’m worried Li Jincheng won’t help me anymore. Even without an explanation, he’d still help. But he wouldn’t be helping as a dear friend and brother-in-law; it would become a purely transactional relationship. If it really comes to that, the Li family won’t be the one at a loss. I, Ping’an, will. I’ll lose a sister who genuinely cares for me, and a once-in-a-lifetime friend.’

’And then there’s the "Eldest Miss" of my Ping Family. She’s almost fifty years old, but she’s still utterly clueless and has no judgment. In Zhou Lian’s words, "She’s a nobody with a brain completely addled by love." She’s also a master of screwing over her own family. Here we go again with her usual antics—crying, screaming, and threatening suicide. Does she even remember she’s from the Ping Family? She’s brought nothing but shame to our name!’

’She’s a complete idiot, and my brother and his wife don’t know how to handle her? They actually asked Sister to intervene? Have their brains stopped working too? What did they expect Sister to do? Ignore it? Well, once they asked, it would have been awkward to refuse. But manage it? How the hell is she supposed to manage it? Has every last member of the Ping Family died off? They’re asking an outsider to deal with the Eldest Miss of the Ping Family—an Eldest Miss who’s almost fifty and has been married for years!’

’But why would Jin Chen and Sister even consider handing over the entire Capital City network to my brother? No, something is off here. After all, Jin Chen promised me. Since I, Ping’an, wouldn’t be returning to the Capital City, everything there was supposed to be left in my hands. Why give it to my brother now? And it wasn’t even Jin Chen who did it personally; Sister was the one who handled the transfer. Could something have happened in the Capital City?’

’But I haven’t received a single piece of news. If there had been a major upheaval, Secretary Sun would never have kept it from me. So what in the world are Jin Chen and Sister trying to accomplish with this whole charade?’

Just as Ping’an was racking his brain, completely unable to figure it out, his phone rang. It was the Eldest Miss of the Ping Family. He frowned, his face a mask of disgust as he listened to the wailing on the other end of the line. Ping’an shook his head in resignation. ’She’s almost fifty, her own children are married, and she’s still throwing tantrums like this. Has she no shame?’

He listened silently to his older sister’s tearful tirade for more than half an hour before letting out a self-mocking laugh. ’It’s time to make a decision. I have to solve this once and for all. I can’t let our parents be tormented over these blood ties anymore. They’re getting old, and their health is failing. Especially Father. Even Li Jincheng knows to worry about him—he even found a famous doctor to treat him!’

’But his own older sister, a grandmother no less, was a real piece of work—a true master at causing grief for her father, mother, and brothers. This trip back to the Capital City, I’ll kill two birds with one stone and deal with her mess, too. Our parents are people of unyielding integrity who have served the country their whole lives, yet they raised such a selfish, brainless daughter. What rotten luck. And my brother and I... saddled with a clueless older sister like her. We really drew the short straw.’

He looked at the framed calligraphy on the wall: "To establish a mind for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace to all future generations." Ping’an undid the top button of his shirt and let out a long sigh. Li Jincheng had personally brushed those characters, had them framed, and given the piece to him when he was preparing to leave for his post outside the capital.

Back then, he had said, "Ping’an, just focus on your work. I’ll watch over things here in the Capital City, so you won’t have to worry about a thing."

The first time he left the Capital City, Sister had seen him off at the station. He remembered it was winter, and she had adjusted his hat for him, saying, "Let me send you off with a line from someone else: ’May a fair wind lend its strength and send you soaring to the highest clouds!’"

’But this time, if I mess this up, I could lose him—my friend and mentor. I could lose her—my sister and mentor. Will this endless string of dramas ever be over?!’